Farley Mowat died May 6, and animals around the world lost
one of their most passionate, articulate, outspoken defenders. Mowat was an
outsized figure in Canadian culture, a committed environmentalist way before it
was popular in a country that, like the U.S., has a history of putting profit
before preservation and treating nature and other species as tools for our use
and toys for our pleasure.

Mowat's legacy
is open for debate, and there's no question he fabricated sections of his
most popular nonfiction books, including "People of the Deer" and
"Never Cry Wolf." He reacted by saying specific facts weren't as
important as telling a greater truth, an indefensible argument about books
based on scientific research. That those books were popular and influential and
helped change policy toward the Inuit and wolves, respectively, is all the more
reason that they should be accurate. Telling a good story and telling the truth
are not mutually exclusive.

What can't be debated is that Mowat was a lively, accessible
writer who loved animals and brought that love to everything he did. He wrote
at least two children's books that are classics by any definition and appealed
to boys and girls of all ages. Here are four of Mowat's best:

"The Dog
Who Wouldn't Be" (1957): Charming, hilarious, heartfelt,
unforgettable, Mowat's story of his dog Mutt and how they grew up together on
the Saskatchewan prairie is a book that children love and read to their own
children. It's perfect for families.

"Owls
in the Family" (1962): So is this story about three boys who rescue a
couple of owls and learn about friendship, responsibility, and respect for
nature and its amazing creatures, "the Others," as Mowat lovingly
called them. If that sounds too serious, don't be put off. This is a ton of fun.

"Never Cry
Wolf" (1963): Much of what Mowat wrote has been discredited or
disputed, either in details (he didn't spend time alone observing wolves) or in
general (many of his conclusions about wolf behavior). So what's left? A
compelling story about a wildly misunderstood species that has been blindly
attacked into near-extermination and a passionate defense of that species'
right to exist and essential place in the wilderness food chain. That counts
for something. The movie is excellent.

"A
Whale for the Killing" (1972): A fin whale became trapped in a cove on
the Newfoundland coast. Mowat thought it was a great opportunity for study. The
locals thought otherwise and killed it and ripped it apart in savage fashion.
Mowat was outraged and heartbroken and makes his readers feel the way he does.